Report Says Head Injuries Have Risen in Cities with Bike-Share Programs: New York Personal Injury Lawyer Kenneth A. Wilhelm Comments

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A study published online June 12 in the American Journal of Public Health reports that cities in the United States with bike-share programs saw a 14 percent increase in the risk of bicycle-related head injuries during the study. Researchers attribute this increase to lack of helmet use.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the year 2010, 800 bicyclists were killed nationwide and an estimated 515,000 victims sustained bicycle-related injuries that required emergency department care.

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The proportion of bike-related head injuries seen in trauma centers has increased over several months in cities that have launched bike-share programs. According to a study published online June 12 in the American Journal of Public Health, a group of American and Canadian researchers analyzed data on the treatment of serious head injuries at trauma centers in five cities before and after bike-sharing programs were started.

They also looked at five cities that did not have bike-sharing during the study period, the report states. Overall, the study found that in cities with bike-share programs, the likelihood of a serious bicycle-related head injury increased by 14 percent while there was no such increase in the other cities that did not have the bike-share programs. The report attributed the problem to lack of helmet use by those participating in the bike-share programs.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the year 2010, 800 bicyclists were killed nationwide and an estimated 515,000 victims sustained bicycle-related injuries that required emergency department care. About half of these cyclists were children and adolescents under the age of 20, a CDC report stated. Also, based on CDC data each year 26,000 of these bicycle-related injuries to children and adolescents are traumatic brain injuries treated in emergency departments.

Bike-share programs, including the one in New York City, has a number of benefits, but they come with dangers, said New York personal injury lawyer Kenneth A. Wilhelm. "Bike-share programs help New Yorkers maintain a healthier lifestyle and at the same time travel around the city conveniently. However, there are a number of safety issues that must be taken into consideration."

While the bike-share programs provide commuters with bicycles, they do not require helmet use, Wilhelm says. "It is important that cities require bike-share program users to carry a helmet that fits them well. Bicycle helmets should fit snugly on the rider's head and the straps of the helmet should always be fastened to hold it in place."

Head injury victims often suffer long-term consequences including permanent injuries and disabilities, Wilhelm said. "Prevention of these head injuries is definitely the way to go for cities with bike-share programs. While convenience is important, so is the safety and well-being of the public."

About the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm

The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm is a personal injury litigation firm with an unwavering dedication to its clients. With more than 42 years of experience, our firm strives to obtain the best compensation for those who have been injured or those who have lost a loved one due to an accident or by someone else's negligence. We handle cases dealing with personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, train accidents, workers' compensation, dental malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rape, paralysis, comas, seizures, false arrest, lead poisoning, trips and slips and falls, falls on sidewalks or stairs, elevator accidents, construction accidents, building collapses and explosions, Erb's palsy, cerebral palsy, brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, dog bite cases, fire and smoke inhalation accidents, bicycle accidents, falls from windows or scaffolds, food poisoning injuries, carbon monoxide accidents, and many other types of accidents and injuries.

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